The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

For the first time, the Big Sandy Medical Guild Rummage Sale was three days long, getting over Saturday at noon. There were too many people to thank, and the fear of forgetting one meant neither Lisa Sipler nor Reggie Jappe would attempt a list of helpers. However, this large event takes many community members to pull off. This year the high school students once again helped. The football team arrived with their pickups and helped set up. Monday Morning, the first two periods of ag classes came and helped as well. On Sunday, after the event was over, the Junior and Senior Classes came and helped clean up. Lisa mentioned they are always looking for volunteers. The majority of the volunteers are older, with 50% of the women being over 70 years old. They hope that next year, maybe some younger community members will also volunteer. Steve Sibra and Christain and his wife Stephanie, who come from Washington to help each year. Adam Poole made big signs on the road, which helped to bring people to the event. And there is a nurse who works in Big Sandy but lives in Havre that puts up 35-40 flyers in Havre.

The Rummage sale was picked over by Saturday. "It was pretty bare," Lisa said.

Homemade pie is always a huge seller, and this year there was only a hand full of bought pies. The pies made by Francis Ostrom and Shirley Pearson were well received. Pie sales were down by 52 dollars. Charlie Sipler ate Reggie Jappe's Coconut Crème Pie, and it was amazing. The best he had ever eaten. They almost ran out of the pie on Friday.

Income from the raffle was up $150. There was ? items in the raffle. The quilt made by the residence brought in $250. The total amount raised was $9,579, which was $75 less than last year. This year they didn't have the citywide garage sale leftovers, so it was excellent turnout.

Lisa wants to push for next year. They hope to break the $10,000 threshold finally. It's an excellent goal.

Dr. Robertson, once again, took a lot of the leftovers on Saturday. She sends them to Tanzania. What couldn't be sent to Tanzania was given to Helping Haven in Havre. Lisa wanted to thank Russ and Nichol Allderdice for letting them use their trailer and to Darin Genereux for hauling it.

The annual rummage sale started in 1965 and has raised almost $300,000.

This year they once again applied to the Lippard Clawiter foundation, so with grant money and the money raised at the rummage sale, they are going to continue updates and improvements. They are going to finish replacing the floor covering on the clinic side.